Gas-cleaning apparatus.



J. P. DoVBL. GAS CLEANING APPARATUS. APPLICATION IIILED MAILSI Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

Messes JAMES vIl?. DOVEL, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

GAS-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

To a-ZZ whom 'it may concern: v

Be it known that I, JAMES P. DOVEL, a citizen of the United States,` residing at Birmingham, in the county ofJefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gras-Cleaning Apparatus, of which the following is a Vspecification.

My invention relates to an improved ap? paratus for effectively cleaning furnace gases and controlling their delivery to boiler furnaces and like points of use.

In the practical use of gas cleaners wherein a body of water is used for cleaning the gas, I have noticed a tendency of the cinder and dust to accumulate and cake on the sides of the cleaner casing along the normal Water level line of the cleaning water. As the pressure of the gases flowing against the water fluctuates, this water line varies and there -is a resultant deposit of cinder and other foreign matter which tends to harden and set and which, for the most efficient ac tion of the cleaner, should be cleaned out. Accordingly I have provided a jet pipe which extends through the casing and is provided preferably with a series of jet apertures by which means either water or steam can be directed against the walls of the casing at the point where the sediment tends to accumulate so that the latter is driven down into the body of water or fiushed out with the water overflow in the usual manner. V

I have illustrated by invention (without intending to be limited thereto), as applied to the general type of constructions shown in prior applications for United States Letters Patents filed byY me on July 25th, 1908, Serial No. 445,414, and filed Oct. 2nd, 1908, Serial No. 455,839, and as a further improvement on said construct-ions I arrange both the inlet and `outlet pipes with clean out taps disposed in alinement and on the level with thezbottom of the casing so that the *cleaning instrument may be passed entirely through the casing for effectively cleaning ypanslonv and contraction troubles of metal cont-act valves make a tight joint practically impossible. To overcome the difficulty of providing an effective valve and at the same time to adapt my cleaning apparatus to a double function, I have constructed the trap pipe, through which the fluid is discharged from the casing, so that it can be adjusted to a position which will quickly raise the water level in the casing to a point where it will seal off the flow of gases past t-he balde wall and thus effectively cut off the flow of gas to the point of consumption.

A further'object of my invention is to construct these cleaners in short sections disposed at a sufiicient incline to cause the apparatus to be substantially self cleaning, each casing section having one or more dis-. charge pipes for the cleaned gas leading to the boiler unit which itJ supplies. By this means the several consumption units to which the furnace gases are supplied can be independently controlled and cut off by my gas cleaner, which at the same time ef fee-tively eliminates from the gases the greater percentage of foreign matter and delivers the gases in a satisfactory condition and without appreciable loss of heat to the points `of use. By the use of the short inclined units, the question of cleaning out the same is simplified and the operation can be conducted with a very small flow of water, which characterizes and lconstitutes the principal feature of my pending applications above referred to. j

A further object of my invention is to utilize the clean out pipe for discharging water against the outlet side wall of the casing in the form of a shallow stream which, in conjunction with the shallow longitudinally flowing stream, gives, with a minimum of watera wide water surface for catching the dust in the gases.

My invention further constitutes and comprises the `details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed, reference in which Figurel is a side 'elevation of my improved gas cleaning and valving apparatus shown partly broken away,l Fig. '2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 showing my appa-K /ratus as used in connection with a steam;

boiler. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional being had to the accompanying drawings,

view of the bottom of the casing showing the manner in which the gases display the flowing stream of water.

vSimllar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The casing 1` of the gas cleaner is formed of metal plate and designed with a widetop anda contracted bottom portion formed by straight walls which approach the plane of the bottom at an angle of or even greater, and merge into a narrow curved bottom 2. The gas to be cleaned enters the casing through a pipe 3 under control of a slide valve 4to the left of a vertical partition 5 in the casing, as seen in Fig. 2. This partition 5 is formed of a metal plate which makes a tight joint at the top and extends lengthwise centrally of the casing, being braced near its lower edge by the braces 6. The lower edge of this partition is spacedequidistantly from the bottom 2, as seen more clearly in Fig. 3. The l'casing is supported at an incline by the standards 7 and 8, and is closed at its ends by the heads9 and 10. A stream of water enters the elevated end of the casing, being admitted by a pipe 11 entering a clean-out fitting 12 which is secured to the head 9. The fitting 12 is preferably connected so as to have the lower edge of its, opening practically on the level with the bottom 2, and the outer end of the fixture is closed by a removable screw plug 13. A similar clean-out fitting 14 is connected to the lower head 10, also on a line with the bottom 2 and is closed by a plug 15. A pipe section 16 projects downwardly from the fitting 14 and is connected by an elbow to a substantially horizontal section 17, which in turn is connected by an elbow 18 to an adjustable discharge pipe 19, the elbow 18 being screwed loosely to the pipe section 17 to provide for the angular adjustment of pipe 19.` I provide two or more as outlet ports 20 in the casing on the opposite side of the partition 5 from that which the pipe 3 enters. These openings are placed high up above the straight inclined side wall and are shown connected to pipes 21 which lead downwardly and enter suitable ports 22 in the front of the boiler 23.. A wing valve 24 is pivoted near the discharge end of each pipe 21 and is adjustable by means of a handle 25 which works in engagement with a ratchet 26. also connected to the pipe 21. f

My improved clean-out and supplemental flushing arrangement comprises-a pipe 27 which passes through a suitably packed openin in the head 9 and extends along the incline side wall 28 on the outlet side of the casing. The pipe extends lengthwise through the casing and beyond the.. head 10 where it is closed by a cap 29. It is provided with a continuous slot, or jet orifice 30 and is positioned-about midway of the connects with one end of this coupling anda steam pipe 37, controlled by a valve 38,

connects with the other end of said coupling. The coupling connecting pipes 27 and 33 permits the spray pipe 27 to be adjusted to throw its jet or stream of steam or water directly in against the side wall 28 of. the casing or more toward the bottom 2 of the casing as conditions may require.

The discharge pipe 19 is of such length that when raised to the position in dotted lines, Fig. 1, it will cause the water level to rise to such a height above the bottom edge of the partition 5 that it will seal the casing against the flow of gases therethrough and thus effectively cut ott the flow of gases to the boiler unit or units supplied by a given cleaner. By this means I can dispense with thevcustomary heavy and cumbersome valves and adapt my cleaner to perform this, additional and important function as a valve. Further, by this water seal valve I can completely shut oi the flow of gas which is not possible with the valves in general use.

In operation, the ini'lowing gases enter the casing 1 near the center at one side and flow down under the partition 5 in the direction of the arrows, Fig. In the meantime a small stream o-I` water has beenvadmitted through the pipe 11 and flows lengthwise of the casing with a velocity, due to its pressure and the inclination of the casing 1, calculated to carry out with it such cinders, dust and other foreign matter as it may collect from the gases. The inclination of the casing is such as to insure a flow sufiiciently rapid for this purpose. As the gases pass under the partition 5, they strike the stream of water in such manner as to deflect it in the manner shown in Fig. 3, causing it Ato spread out into a shallow flowing stream which covers a portionof the bottom 2 and side 'wall 28. As thepressure of the gases fluctuates, the level of the flowing stream of water will rise and fall slight-ly tending to leave a sedimentary deposit along its variable water lines on the wall 28. To efl'ectively prevent this accumulation, a jet of water or steam can be turned on through the pipe27, which will effectively clean away this deposit of sediment and Wash or blow it down into the liowing stream 31. Where the operation indicates the necessity, a constant flow of water of limited quantity may be discharged through the pipe 27 and {iowing down the wall 28 of the casing will prea, noname sent a much larger water surface against, which the gasesgimpingeand are thereby `expel the heavier particles to the outer Istratum of the gas and lagainst the sheet of water which arrests the same and expelsthem from the casing in the manner described. I do not cause the gases to pass through the water, which is `undesirable for many purposes, as considerable loss in heat results and a much larger volume of-water is necessary. s i

The advantages of my jet or stream of fluid to act at the water line can be obtained in connection with other types of cleaners than that illustrated, as the tendency of too rapid sedimentary accumulation along the entire water line of a cleaner is one of the serious operating troubles of the same, and obviously my invention is susceptible of application to meet the varyin conditions in types of cleaners other than t at specifically illustrated in the drawings hereinbefore described.

The shallow and constantly flowing stream of water of small volume presents at all times a clean wat/er surface against which the gases impinge and over which they flow, which is most effective for catching the foreign .matterin the gases. Where in practice that its surface becomes almost immediately covered with av scum which 1naterially affects the cleaning action of the lbody of water. This is particularly true ofI `furnace gases when there is an appreciable quantity of mineral oil therein derivedfrom the coke manufactured from soft coal. This formation of the scum with some gases is al- V most instantaneous so that if water were allowed to stand for any appreiable length of timeit would be of little service unless the gas were caused to pass through it, which, as stated above, is for many purposes undesirable. This scum `is largely instrumental in forming the sedimentary deposits along'the water lme in the Washer and seriously interferes with the operation of the cleaner, causing the cleaner to be frequently shut down to enable it to be cleaned out by hand. l"In referring to the Water line inthe casing yI mean to include whatever' portion of the cleaner casing may be in contact with the normal water level of the body of water within the casing. Y

The great economy in the amount of water required to eii'ectively wash a given quantity of gas is one of the most practical advantages which my present invention sharesnwith the forms of washers disclosed and' claimedy in my pending applications aforesaidlp Y. t i

. Where the cleaner casing is made short, as in my present invention as compared with the more elongated'casing in my application Serial No. 445,414, I find itunnecessary to provide clean out pockets and accordingly I make the bottom of my present casing uninterruptedso that the entire body of Water thereon is constantly changing and no point for the accumulation of sediment is present.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

V1. In a gas 'cleaning apparatus, a casing, means to cause a stream of waterto flow throughsaid casing, a. partition in said casing which deflects the gases against said streamand means to discharge a fluid jetl 4under pressure `directly against the side wall of said casing at or near the water line on the gas outlet side of said casing, substantiallyv as described. l

. 2. In a gas cleaning apparatus, a casing, a partition therein, means to cause a stream of water to flow through said casing, the casing wallon the-outlet side of said artition being so disposed that the stream otwater will be displaced by the pressure of the gases im.- pinging against it and will spread over 'a portion of said wall in a shallow stream, and means to discharge a vstream of fluid against said wall, substantially as described.

3. In a1 gas cleaning apparatus, a casing, a

water to iiow through said casing, the casing wall on the outlet side of said partition being .so'disposed that the stream' of water will be displaced by the pressure of the gases impinging against it, and will spread over a a, partition therein, means to cause a stream of a statlc body of water 1s used, Ihave found portion of said wall ina shallow stream,'and

a conduit whicheXt-ends lengthwise of said wall and is provided with a jet opening or openings, and means to supply a uid under pressure to said conduit.

4. In a gas cleaning apparatus, a; casing, a partition therein, means to cause a stream of water to flow through said casing, thecasing wall on the outlet side of said artition being so disposed that the stream otwater .will be displaced by the pressure of the gases impinging againstit and will spread' over a portion of said wall in a shallow stream', and a conduit which extends along said wall above the water line of the displaced stream,

and discharges a thin stream of liquid against the inner surface of said wall, substantially as described. f

5. In a gas cleaning'a paratus, a'casing having a body of water t erein, and an internal conduit supplied with a fluid under ressure and disposed so as to discharge said duid against a side wall of said casing at or nea-r the normal opberating water level, subiae i ternal conduit supplied with a .fluid under pressure and disposed so as todischarge said fluid against a side wall of said casing at or near the normal operating water level, and

means to adjust said conduit, substantially as described.

7. A gas cleaning apparatus comprising an inclined casing having a contracted bottom, a vertical longitudinal partition therein, means to maintain a shallow stream of water therein which flows longitudinally therethrough with sullicient rapidity to carry off with itthe foreign matter which it separates from the gases, and meansto introduce a supplementary ylow of water down the outlet wall of the casing andr into said stream, substantially as described.

8. In a gas cleaning apparatus, a4 casing,

means to su ply water thereto, a defiector in passing which the stream of gases impinges against the water with surface contact only, a slotted pipe disposed in said `casing on the outlet side of said delector, and valve controlled steam and water supply pipes connecting with said slotted pipe which is so arranged as to deliver a jet of steam or water agalnst said casing at or near the water line, as and for the purposes described. v

9. In a gas washer comprising kan inclined casing having water inlet and outlet ports substantially on a level with its bottomf clean-cut'fittings for said ports, a water supply pipe connecting with the upper litting, an'l adjustable trap -pipe connected to the lower tting, a' longitudinal partition depending within the casing to a point above the bottom thereof, a gas inlet port having a body of water therein, means to Y direct the gases to be cleaned into cont-act with said body of water, and an internal conduit supplied with fluid under pressure and interposed so as to discharge said fluid against the inner walls of said casing at or near the normal water level, substantially as described.

11. Ina gas washer, a casing through which the gases to be cleaned flow, a bafie therein around which the gases pass, said casing having a smooth uninterrupted `bottom along which' abody of cleaning water Hows, means to produce a continually changing body of water on said bottom causing it to flow along the same as a stream and in a osition where the gases in --a thin sheet will impinge against the moving surfaces of said stream as they pass under said baffle, substantially as described.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set witnesses.

JAMES I. DOVEL. Witnesses:

NoMm WELSH,

ANNIE L. PEACE.

my hand in presence of two subscribing.;y 

